Drying and treating fabrics and other materials.



W. M. GROSVENOR. DRYING AND HEATING FABRICS AND OTHER MATERIALS.

` APPLIUATION FILED SEPT. 25, 1909.

M Patented @015.223,1913.

6 SHEETS-SHEET l.

n.. 1 .l ..1 :1. ...i x n.. W4 7 W. M. GROSVENUR. DRYING AND TRBATING FABRICS AND OTHER MATERIALS.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 25, 1909.

Patented Oct. 28, .1913.

6 SHBETS-SHEET 2.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 25, 1909.

Patented 0012.28, 1913.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

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W. M. GROSVBNOR. DBYING AND TREATING FABRICS AND OTHER MATERIALS.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

.unina UDUUDDDununzuunGoDDuundnnDDUnuuunnDUnuni-Dunnun W. M. GROSVBNOR. DRYING AND TRBATING FABRICS AND OTHER MATERIALS.

-APPLIOATION FILED SEPT. 25, 1909. 1.076,97. Patend 001128,1913.

6 SHBETS*SHEBT 5.

W. M. GROSVENOR. DRYING AND TRBATING FABRICS AND OTHER MATERIALS.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 25, 1909. 1,076,976. Patented 001;. 2s, 1913.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 6.

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Aires PATENT oFFICE- wir. L ra 1u n. dan s-v'nn on, or y ein .an-'rw o4.e,n., Huw; rsu-1t s Ey DRYING .tND TREATINGI: FABRGSANIl. OTHER. MATERIALS;, i

specificationef Mettersi-'etant ratenreaeeaas,ieaa

Application filed Septemher 25, 1909. Serial-No.- 5192595;

T all 11i/rom #may concern. y Be it known that i, WILLIAM Grosve- NoR, a citizen of the United Sta-tes, and a resident of Grantwood, Bergen county, and. State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful improvements in Drying and Treating Fabrics and other Materia-ls,

of'wliich the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in drying and treating fabrics and otherl materials and is more especially designed with respect to improvements in drying and conditioning fabrics.v

A. general object of my invention is to provide a method' and arrangement whereby the drying and treatin-g of such materials `may be much more quickly, economically and efficiently carried out.

' Many further objects, features and advantages will more clearly appear from the detailed description given below, taken in connection with the accompanying draw ings which form a part of this specification. ln the drawings, Figure 1 is a transverse sect-ion of an apparatus arranged to carry out one form of my invention; Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical section of theleft hand end of the apparatus shown in Fig. l. Fig. 3 is a similar section of the right hand end of the apparatus. Fig. t is` a horizontal section takenl on the line lV-FV of Figs. 2 and 3. Fig. 5 is a detail cross section showing the removable side panels and battles of Fig. 1. Fig. 6 is a vertical section of the parts shown in Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is a. detail View, partly in section, of parts of the hu midifier. Fig. 8 is a detail view of part of one of the rolls and part of the adjustable side frame, showing some of the parts in a modiiied form. Fig. 9 is a vertical transverse section of a modified form of apparatus, variousV heating means and rolls being removed, however, for the sake of clearness.

Referring to Fig. 1, 1 represents the ilo-or upon `which rests a suitable containing apparatus vconsisting of a bottom 2, sides 3, 3

and top 4. rl`he containing apparat-us is movable by being secured to. the uprights 6 by means of eye-bolts 7, secured' inl the uprights 6 and having wedges 8 passing through the eyes thereof, to firmly hold the side panels 3 in place. v

With-in theapparatus so far described I provide upright anels 9', consisting of two walls 10 and 11 aving an air space therebetween, to diminish the passage of heat therethrough. 'These panels 9 are also held in place and made removable by means of wedges 12:, passing through suitable apertures in the uprights 6y (lsee also Fig. 6'). The upright panels 9;' extend vertically and are so arranged that spaces are provided at each side of the apparatus, these. spaces. being bounded by panels 9,y sides 3 and up-v rights 6, and being open 'at the top and bottom ends. j f f Between the two inner side panels 9 I provide stationary uprights 13', adjacent thereto, these uprights being connected by cross lower part of Fig. 1, so that slits 16 are' provided which interlock with one another, so that. the ends ofthe rolls may be brought nearer tcgetherand yet the circumference of the rolls may be maintained substantially the same (see also Fig. 8). In order to `move the ends or hubs 17' of these rolls nearer together or farther apart, I ro? vide adjustable frame piecesA 18, provided with extensions 19, which engage a groove 20 in the hubs 17, so that when the side pieces 18 are moved the hubs neoessarll move with them and thelength of the .rol s. l5 is thereby adjusted, The side pieces 18 are moved and adjusted by means of screw threaded shafts 21, which may be'operated in any suitable manner, as bybhand or by gears 22 (shown in Fig. Tl) Ydriven by any suitable power.

Located near the bottom of the apparatus is a suitable heating means'23, conslstmg of coils, ofpi 4s.l These coils of pipes are locatedjus't low'the lower roll 15, Located substantially oppositetlle thirdroll from the bott-om is another set of heating means, 'which may be designated as the mam heat.-

ing means 24. The heating means 24 also consist of'a plurality of pipes supplied-by means of a pipe25 fed from the main steam pipe 26. A valve 27 is interposed in orderV that the amount of steam and consequently the heat produced by the coils 24 may be suitablv regulated. The exhaust from the coils 24 leads through pipe 28 through a suitable steam trap 29, so that the, hot water thereby collected may be used to heat the coils 23 through the inlet pipe 30. the amount of flow being regulated by a valve 31 (see Fig. l). Located opposite and just above each of the other 'rolls are separate sets of heating means 32, eachconsisting of coils of steam pipes fed from the main steam supply pipe 26 and controlled by val-ves 33. The exhaust from these various sets of coils leads to a main exhaust pipe 34. Y

Located near the top of the apparatus are two members 35, 35, each of which forms an extension fr the interior side panels `9, and adjacent these side members 35 and between them and the side 4walls 3 are condensers 36, each condenser` consisting of a series of'cold water pipes supplied from inlet pipes 37 and provided with exhaust pipes 38. Below the condensing pipes is a trough 39, for the collection of moisture condensed by the coils 36 and from this trough are provided drip pipes 40; The whole of the condenser apparatus is supported on cross beams 41;

VWithin the lower part of the apparatus and secured v,to the uprights 13 I provide` tanks 42, which forfn part of my' humidifyT ing apparatus. These tanks are provided with apertures 43 in theirbottoms, through each of which is inserted a bunch of textile material which is heldin' pla-ce thereinV by means of pins 44 (see also Fig. 7), the tex-k tile material being denoted by 45. These tanks 42 extend substantially the whole length of the apparatus and are so arranged that 4'the textile material 45' hangs below the lower end of the side panels 9 andinto tanks 46. Warm water is supplied to the tanks 42 by supply pipes 47, which collect Warmwater condensed by one of the pipes in condensers 36. Any moisture dripping from the material 45 drops into the tanks 46,-

. whence-1 it islsuitably carried away. Y

` The fabric is carried into the apparatus through an aperture 48 in the front wall l5 of the machine by means of suitable chains passing over rollers 49. The chainsv are designated by reference character 50 and are more clearly shown in Fig. 8. They consist of link members 51, provided with pins 52 suitably placed, over which pins the fabric is adapted to be caught. On the outside of the links 51 they are providedv with lateral extensions 53, having rollers 54 on their ends which are adapted to work in the guides 55 secured to the movable side frame pieces 18. The cha-ins 51 are guided and driven by 'ting into the apparatus (see Fig. 2).

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being passed over sprockets 56 secured to each hub of the rolls 15. There are two chains', one for each side of the machine, which as they pass up to the opening-48 may besomewhat spread apart-fin order to properly tenter the fabric. After passing through the aperture 48 they carry the fabric, which may be indicated by reference numeral 57, between two vrolls 58 and 59. The roll 59 is placed within a tank 60 containing water, so that it will supply moisture to the fabric 57. Anyv excess of moisture supplied thereby is squeezed out by the roll 58.

lThen'ce the fabric is carried back and forthl through the aperture 61 nearthe bottom of the machine and over the roll 62..l

Suitable pieces of weather stripping 63 may be provided at the apertures 48 and 61,

in order to prevent the outer air from geta similar manner suitable weather stripping 64 vmay be provided at t-he edges of the panels 3 and 9 in order that the walls of the containing chamber may be substantially tight.

Located in `between the various passes of fabricare battles or bafie plates 65, 'hinged upon brackets 66 secured to the side panels 9. These features are more clearly shown in Figs. 5 and 6. The bafiies 65 are provided with springy extensions 67, which lie against the sides of the panels 9, so that any material downward movement of the outerend of the baffles is prevented. The baiiies 65 are hinged by 'means of pivot pins 68 and are provided with an extension piece 69 whichvis arranged to contact with the brackets 66 in order to prevent the inner ends of the baffles 65 being given an excess upward movement. The sides and edges of the battles are cut as shown in Fig. 5, being provided onone side with a slant-ing edge 70 and on the other edge with cutaway porf scribed is as follo-wsrThe fabric is placed upon the chains 50 by being caught over the pins 52 at its edges just before it passes into the apparatus. The chains are then slightly separated by suitable well known means in order to provide the proper tenter. yThe chains and fabric then pass over the roll 49 and into the apparatus through the opening 4 8. The fabric then .passes between the rolls 58 and 59, which supply ipv/aero moisture thereto or squeeze moisture therefrom according to the requirements of the fabric. `lhence the fabric passes to the other end ot' the apparatus and back and forth over the various rolls 15 down to a point j-ust above the main heating means 24, over the large roll 15 (Fig. 3) thence 'back and forth over the remaining rolls 15 to a po-int just above the heating means 23, whence it passes 'out of the apparatus through the opening 61 and over the roll 62. The sets of heating means 32 are arranged between the various passes ot goods, above the main heating means 24.

rll`hev'drying medium (and by this term l include the mixture of gases and water vapo-r contained inthe apparatus) passes up through the central part of the apparatus and is brought up to the proper drying temperature by means of the heating means 24. lit then comes in Contact with the iirst pass of goods, whereby it is somewhat cooled by evaporation. It then come@ in contact with the set ot steani pipes just above this pass of goods, so that its teinperature is again raised to a suihcient de-` grec to most etiiciently dry the fabric. It then comes in contact with the next pass of goods, whereby it is again cooled by evaporation. This process continues until the j drying medium reaches the top parts of the goods, just entering the apparatus through the opening 4:3. In this Way the material is subjected to a counter current of the drying medium and the temperature of the drying medium is suitably supplied and regulated at different points in the apparatus, so that when the drying medium reaches the top ott the apparatus it has` absorbed a greater amount oit moisture than would otherwise be possible. Thus the temperature of the drying medium may be much greater When it comes in contact with the top parts of the goods than when it comes in contact with the bottom parts of the goods, that is, as the drying medium rises, its temperature may be greatly increased so that it will absorb a passing above the top partsof the goods the passes .above t-he top parts of the goods the drying medium circulates over the members 35 and into the condensers 36, where thedrying medium is thoroughly cooled and condensation produced therein in order to remove the moisture therefrom. The drying medium .then descends between .the panels 9 and side walls 3 and passes among the material 45, whence a small amount of moisture is imparted `thereto in order to render the medium sufficiently humid for conditioning the fabric. Ifthemedium is not sufficiently Warm' it may be slightly heated by -means of preliminary heating coils 23, which are supplied -With hot Water from the exhaust of the main heating coils 24, H the l,drying medium is suiiicicntly 'be easily slid out of the apparatus. j slanting edge permits of this pivotal humid as it comes from the condensers, the humiditiers 42 and 45 may be omitted or their operation eliminated. From the heating means 23 the drying medium comes in contact With the various passes of goods just above and properly condition the same be fore the material. leaves the apparatus.

The various baiiie plates are so arranged that the drying medium is caused to pass back and forth from side to side over the various heating means and over the various passes' of goods, so that the humid drying medium will come into thorough cont-act with all parts ot' the fabric.

ln order to adjust the rolls to various Widths of goods, it is only necessary to rotate gears 22, whereby the side frames 18 are laterally adjusted, thereby moving the hubs 17 of the various rolls until they are suitably adjusted for thewidth of goeds.

y n order to provide Warm water for the tanks 42 for the liumidifying means, pipes 47 are provided, which vreceive condensed moisture from one or more of the pipes ot the condensers 3G. Easy access is had to the condensers 36 for removal and repair by means of the upper removable panels 75,

Which are easily taken out by removing the' Lipper Wedges 8. ln order to regulate the amount of flow of drying medium either through one condenser or the other, an adout the conditioning process With the saine v medium which I use for drying, so that all Waste of energy which would otherwise be used for preparing a separate medium for these two purposes is eliminated, thus greatly reducing the cost of operation of the system. By providing the auxiliary heating means 32 the drying medium is caused to take up a. great deal more moisture than would otherwise be possible, so

that the material is much more rapidly dried and the drying and condensation much more economically e'ected.

By providing the apparatus With the removable panels 9, 9, and the removable sides 3 and 75, easy access is had to all parts of the apparatus for removal of the saine and for repair. Likewise, by constructing the battles as shown they may be easily removed as follows: It is only necessary to remove the side panels 3 and 9 and the pivot pins 68, when the batlles may be rotated about the part 69 as a center, so that they irpsliy movementv Without causing Vthe removal of the battles being obstructed in any Way. The

adjustable upright members 18 are slightly cut away directly opposite the baille plates 65, so that a comparatively small space is left through which the drying medium may escape between the baille's. The cut away parts 72 of the baiiies permits of the movement of the members 18 laterally, so that they may be adjusted to various widths of goods.

Referring to Fig. 9, I there (show/ aA slightly modified form of apparatus, which however has the general structure -of the apparatus already described. It has the same condensers 36 and the removable side walls 3 and 75 and the removable panels 9. It also has the same heating means 24 and adjustable baii'ies 76. Similar humidifying apparatus 42, 45, 46 and 47 is also provided. The various heating means 23 and 32 and the rolls 15 are omitted for the sake of clearness. In this modification, however, the side frames' 13, 14 are spaced away from the side panels' 9 to give a suiicient space therebetween to. allow the entrance of a person, and the flooring 8() is provided on which he may walk. Suitable doors 8l, one at` each endof the apparatus, are provided for entrance thereto. The adjustable side frames 18 are moved by means of screw threaded rods 21 vland gears 22 as in the rst apparatus and these side frames carry the guides 55 for the chains which carry the fabric. Also in this figure I show a different arrangement of baffling means. This arrangement consists of pieces of flexible material 82, which extend substantially the whole length of the apparatus and which are secured along one of theirsides to the guides 55 by means of screws 83 (see also Fig. 8). Two of these baffling means are arranged below the main heating means 24, as shown. i The other side of these bafling means 82 passes over rolls 84 and has a weight 85 attached along the other edge. The weight 85 keeps the baffling material taut and since the baffling material is connected to the guides 55 and substantially to the edge of the fabric, the drying medium is caused to pass back and forth over the various passes of goods in its upward travel through the center of the apparatus. The baffles 82 may be easily removed by unscrewing the screws 83 and ready access is had toeall parts of the apparatus without taking the side panels off, although these panels may be taken olf when it is desired to replace large pieces of the apparatus.

By my improvements a great saving can be accomplished since the temperature of the air in the drying chamber may be main' tained sufficiently high so that it may ultimately carry away the amount of water ccrresponding to the high percentage of saturation, and this maybe done at or near the maximum temperature permissible with the material being treated. Furthermore the size of the apparatus and the cost of installation is largely decreased because the amount of air or drying medium necessarily handled to remove a given tonnageV of water is so greatly reduced- The alternately heating the drying medium and cooling the same by evaporation causes the dry-ingmedium to pass through epicycles of heating and evaporative cooling as it passes through its main cycle of humidifying, drying and conditioning. In this way a much higher temperature may be maintained at different points in the apparatus than would otherwise be permissible. This reinforcement of temperature may be carried out by different forms of apparatus, without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention.

tion of the air by a single-passage of the By these improvementsA I avoid i the great fall in temperature due to saturamaterial to be dried through the old forms of apparatus and at the same time avoid the access of cold air to the drying chamber.

The condensers are so designed that the flow of the cooling liquid therethrough is restrained, so that the cooling action is limited to `that which is required to remove the necessary moisture and economically serve the heating chamber. g f

By providing the conditioning feature at a separate point in the same apparatus, the

drying operation can be carried.l out en- If desired thecirculation of the drying,y

medium may be increased inany suitable manner and with certain classes of `goods it may be desirable to omit the top 4set of the heating means 32 in order that the rst pass of goods shall not be greatlyv heated. The apparatus, however, can bev operated with perfect safety, applying much greater heat to the upper passes of goods than can ordinarily be used without serious injury to the goods, as no cold dry .air can strike the hot wet material. i l

One of the marked advantages of the apparatus is its long steady runs without the necessity of cleaning, no dust being carried into it from other parts of the mill and its own lint being largelyA caught by the con-v .labor =in operatingfthe machine is veryamuch' less and much more pleasant .thaniin priordevices. Less time is requinedto dry Va given A.quant-ity .of `goods since substantially `all of ythe heat .put into 2the apparatus is @moet effectively used and the :goods being `dried in the `atmosphere which is saturated at .the very 4beginnixng of the `:operation not only gradually becomes dr-ier 'but `also cooler .as the goods vdescend -and becomes nearly dried.. `The goods also has a 'tiuer feel and Wears better.

llt will be apparent that not only 4isthev invention :adapted to the treatment of the fabrcitseli but also -toany form ofmaterial capable .oit `.being .carri-ed through the drier on the fabric `as a carrier, -or on .a belt or similar conveyers, eas it has already gbeel practically applied .to breakfast foods, hay, meat, fiber, etc.

.Although l have vdescribed my invention with great detail, i do -no-t desire to .be limited hereto, since many modifications may .be ymade Without-departing from the spirit and scope of my invention.; :but

Having fully and .clearly described lmy improvements, what -ll claim as new and dej sire to secure fby Letters Patent is:

lac

l. An improved drying process which consists in subjecting the material .to be dried to a .currentaof drying :medium in such a manner that such ldrying medi-um is repeatedly brought into vContact and removed 'from contact with :the :material and when-.out of 4contact is heated to :restore .the v.tempera- .ture lost by evaporation, and then .fp-reducu zing condensation in the drying medium and dfi again passing it through repeated contacts and .removals accompanied nby heating asbe- Ifore, and continuing these .cycles until the material is dried.

.2. An y'improved drying process lwhich consistsi-n `subjecting the material to be dried to: a current of drying medium in such a manner that such drying medium is repeatedlybrought into contact and removed from Contact .with the material and `when out of Contact is heated to :restore heat .lost

e by evaporation, ,and then removing moisture from the drying mediumzandiagain passing it :through repeated contacts and removals accompanied byv heating as before and con- --tinuin'gzthe cycles .tosuiiciently dry the ma- .passing it lthrough l.repeated contacts and `reymouais accompaniedxby heat-ind' as before .and contlnuing the cycles to su ciently dry the material.

4c. ,In an .improved process for treating .fabrics .and other materials, circulating a suitable heated medium :about the material to dry @the same .and .then conditioning the material by subjecting the material to porftione of the same imedium While moist .but under a condition'of lesser humidity than -it had non leaving ythedrying operation to con- .dition the material.

.then subjectingthe -niaterial to the same me. dium after .the medium has .been cooled and a portioneof its moisture removed to condition the material.

z6. An .improved ldryingand treating .process which ,consists in subjecting the material to beV dried to :a current of `drying medium whereby Athe medium absorbs `moisture from .the material and drys the same, and then :subjecting .the material to a medium con- -tainingfmoisture absorbed insaid dryingop- ,eration 'tohumidify and cool the material.

JZ. ln an improved process -for treating fabrics and other materials, subjecting the material -tofbe-dried to a drying medium .at a relatively high temperature,- then subjecting the material to .the same .medium -.at a 'lower temperature, removing moisture from the same med-iam fand Ithen subjecting the zinater'ial yte the same medium to cause :the medium to humidity and condition'the material... 1 j

8. ln an improved process for treating rfabrics and ,other materials, subjecting the material Vmoving Vin `one direction Yto a dry* ing 'medium :moving in :a Vcountr-:r direction,

:the material .being lirrst subjected to .the medium at a relatively high temperature and Ahumidity and athen subjected 'to `the medium .at :a lower temperature and humidity, :cooling tand ,removing rnoistare trom the :drying mediiun and :then subjecting the material :to tbecooled medium te cause the medium to htnnidii'y and vcondition the .ma-

terial.

-9- dln an improved iprccess for treating iabrics fand other materials, subjecting .the material moving ,in (one :direction to a :drying medium in portions moving y1n a sub -stantially closed circuit in a counter direction,so that each portion of @the drying rne- .dium is 4intermittentl-y subjected tothe ma terial, .intermittently heating lthe dryin` imediurn `between such subjection, then `coolingthe drying :medium so as to produce `condensation itherein, and athen .subjecting Jll the material tothe cooled --rnedium .to cause i a conditioning or adjustment of moistureT between the two, and to take up heat from the material to condition the material.v

10. In an improved process for treating fabrics and similar materials, subjecting the material to a suitable medium circulating in a substantially closed circuit, drying the material in one part of said circuit and hu- Vmidifying or conditioning the material in another part of said circuit. 4

11. In an improved process for treating fabrics and other materials, subjecting the material to a suitable drying `medium to cause the medium to take up moisture from the material to dry the material and then subjectingthe material to the drying medium at a different temperature so that the medium will condition the material andthen increasing the temperature of the medium so that it will again take more moisture. 12. In an improved process for treating fabrics and other materials, causing the material to movedownwardly in layers, subjecting the layers to the action of ascending currents of a drying medium and'regulating the temperature and humidity of the medium' so that material is conditioned and the heat of the material is imparted to the cuit closed upon itself to a` lpreliminary heat- I medium .during the lower part of the movement of the material and so that moisture is taken up by the medium from the material and heat imparted to the material during the upper part of the movement of the material.

13. In a drying system, means for subjecting the drying medium circulating in a ciring before it comes into proximity to the /goods to b edricd to dry the goods,jand means for alternately heating the drying medium and exposing the material to be dried thereto after said preliminary heating.

14.' An improved dryin apparatus havlug in combination suitab e containing vap- 4paratus', means whereby the material is moved therethrough to be dried and means whereby a current of drying medium is y caused to pass over the material and repeatedly brought into and removed from contact with the 'materiah means for heating the medium when out of contact with the material to produce a repetition of both heat-V ing and ,evaporative cooling and means whereby moisture is removed from the medium and part of the medium returned to again pass through, said repetition ofheating and evaporative cooling.

l5'. In a system for treatingV fabrics and other materials, suitable containing apparatus containing drying medium, ymeans for moving the material through the apparatus, compression rollers for the material as it lpasses into the apparatus, means'ifor heating the drying medium so that the material is subjected thereto at a relatively high temperature and great humidity and then the material wis subjected thereto at lesser temperatures and lesser humidities to 'dry the material, means for cooling the drying medium and removing a portion of the moisture -therefromafter' the drying operation, and means for causing the material to be subjected to the cool drying medium to condition the material.

16. In a system forl drying and treating Y wardly in the former portion to dry the material, and means for causing the material to be subjected to the relatively cool drying' medium after it leaves the condenser.

` 17. In an apparatus for treating fabrics andother materials, a chamber forminga circuit closed upon itself, means for causing the material to 4be treated to travell through said chamber, said chamber having a medium therein arranged to heat the material during' a portion of its travel -and means whereby the same medium` will cool the material during another'portion of its travel through said chamber. f

18. In an apparatus ,for treating fabrics and'other materials, a chamber substantially closed to vthepoutside atmosphere, vmeans in said chamber for drying the'material and means in said chamber for conditioning the -rnaterialafter it'lias been dried.

19, In-an apparatus' for treating fabrics andV other materials, a chamber forming a circuit closed upon itself, a heating means in said chamber for heating the drying medium and meansfor causing the material to he dried to pass below said heating means to condition the material.V y j 20. In a drying system -for treating fabrics and other materials, suitable containing apparatus, means .for vca'usingthe vmaterial to travel through `the apparatus,

a medium for heating the material and absorbing moisture therefrom during part of its travel through the apparatus, means for condensing moisture from ,said` medium absorbed during said heating, and means for returning a portion of said moisture to sai-d material during another portion of its travel.

21. and other materials, a chamber forming aI circuit closed upon itself, 'meansfor remov- In an apparat-usfor treating fabrics'v ing moisture from said material in one portion of said chamber, means for moving the material' to another portion of saidfchamber and means for-.conditioning the, material in said lastlmentioned portion-of said/chamber isc Leraars With a portion of the moisture removed in the first mentioned portion of said chamber.

22. Inan apparatus for the treatment of fabrics and similar materials, a chamber substantially closed to the outside atmosphere provided With inlet and outlet apertures for the material, means for dividing the chamber into tWo compartments communicating with one another at two points, means for moving the material to and tro Within one compartment, means for drying the material in said compartment and means for conditioning the material in said compartment. y

23. ln an apparatus for the treatment of fabrics and similar materials, a chamber substantially closed to the outside atmosphere provided with inlet and outlet apertures for the material, means for dividing the chamber into two compartments communicating with one ano-ther at tWo points,`

means for moving the material to and fro Within one compartment, means for maintaining diiqferent temperatures at differentelevations in said compartment, and means for removing excess moisture from the apparatus.

24C. ln an apparatus for the treatment oi fabrics and similar materials, a chamber substantially closed to the outside atmosphere provided with inlet and outlet apertures for the material, means for dividing the chamber into tvvoco'mpartments communicating with one another at twopoints, means for moving the material to and fro Within one compartment, means for applying a regulated amount of heat at dili'erent elevations in said compartment, so arranged that at one point in said compartment the vmaterial Will be cooled and a condenser in the other compartment provided With means for removing excess moisture from the apparatus.

25. In a. drying apparatus, suitable containing apparatus, a plurality of layers oi' heating means therein, means for supporting the material to be dried therebetween so as to form alternate layers of heating means and or' the material to be dried, and battles arranged between various of the layers ot heating means and material.

26.51 a drying apparatus, means ior moving the material to be dried therethrough in a plurality of passes, and separate heating means adjacent to various passes of the material, said apparatus being arranged to form a passage for causing a systematic circulation of a drying medium therein, and baffles arranged to cause the drying medium to pass alternately in opposite directions to and :fro over various passes of the material.

2i'. ln a dr fino' a aratus means for carrying the material to be dried therethrough, means for adjusting said carrying means to varying widths of material, and baliiirigV means arranged to cause the drying medium to eiiectively treat the material, said bafadjustable for varying apparatus and extending substantially the,

length of the layers of the material taken parallel to the passage of the material.

29. In a. drying apparatus, a plurality of heating means and bathe plates, a carrier arranged yto carry the material to be dried back and forth therein between Various of the heating means and baille plates, and a condenser, said apparatus and baille plates being so arranged that a passage is provided for directing a drying medium over the heat-. ing means, the material to be dried and the condenser. i Y

30. ln an vapparatus for treating fabrics and other materials, suitable containing apparatus having a compartment for drying, a plurality of heating means in said compartment, means for moving the material back and forth over said heating means, a second heating means for heating the drying medium to the proper temperature for the drying operation, a condenser for cooling and producing condensation in the drying medium, and a third heating means for regulating the temperature oi the medium from the condenser.

3l. ln anv apparatus' for treating fabrics and other materials, suitable containing apparatus arranged to term a passage for the circulation ont the drying medium, means for heating the drying medium to bring it to the proper temperature 'for the drying operation, means for supporting the material to be dried and subjecting it to the drying medium, auxiliary heating mea-ns for adding heat to the medium at various stages of its passage about the material, a condenser for cooling and producing condensation inthe drying medium after it leaves the material, means for adjusting the temperature and humidity of the drying medium after it leaves the condenser and means for subjecting' the material to the drying medium after it leaves said adjusting means.

32. In an apparatus for treating fabrics and other materials, suitable containing apparatus arranged to form a passage for the circulation of the drying medium, means for heating the drying medium to bring it to the proper temperature for the drying operation, means tor supporting the material to be dried and subjecting it to the drying medium, a condenser for cooling and producing condensation in the drying medium after it leaves the material, means for adlll@ izo y 60 varying widths to be 1 justingthe temperature of the drying for heating the drying medium to bring it to the proper temperature for the drying opera-tion, means for supporting the material to be dried and subjecting it to the drying medium, a condenser for cooling and pro- ,Elfs ducing condensation in the drying mediumN 4after it leaves the material, means for adjusting the humidity of the drying medium after it leaves the condenser, and means for subjecting the material to the drying medium after it leaves said adjusting means.

34. l'n an apparatus for treating fabrics and other materials, suitable containing apparatus arranged to form a passage for the circulation of the drying medium, means for 2,5 heating the drying medium to bring it to the proper temperature for the drying operation, means for supporting the material to be driedand subjecting it to the drying medium, a condenser forvcooling and producing condensation in ther drying medium i .after it leaves thematerial, means for adj'usting the' humidity of the drying medium l after 1t leaves the condenser,land means for subjecting the material to the drying -3.5 mediumafter it leaves said adjusting means,

said adjusting means including material im- .pregnated with moisture in the passage for the drying medium and means for delivering moisture thereto from the condenser.

4 0 A35. In an. apparatus for treating fabrics 'and other materials arranged to form a passage for the circulation of the treating medium, a condenser, and material in said passage, said materialv bein impregnated "with moisture fromy said con enser.

36. In'v an apparatus for treating fabrics and other materials, suitable containing 'apparatus' arranged to form a passage way through 4which the drying medium circudates, means for supporting material of varyingl widths to be dried, and battling means arranged in operative relation thereto, said baiiiingfmeans being adjustableffto varying widths of material. I

37. In an apparatus for treating fabrics and other materials, suitable containing apparatus varranged to form a passage way through which the drying medium circulates,` means for sup orting material of dried, baiiing means arranged in operativerelation thereto, said baffling means being adjustable to varying Widths of material, and a plurality of Sets Ving the material after it has been dried.

of heating means'spaced among the material to be dried.

38. In an apparatus for treating fabrics and other' materials, suitable containing apparatus arranged toform a passage way through which the drying medium circulates, means for supporting material of varying widths to be dried, battling means arranged in operative relation thereto, said battling means being adjustable to varying widths of material, and means for condition- 39.l In a drier, the combination of adjust-' able width carriers for the material to be dried, and baiiing means self-adjusting in accordance with the position of said carriers.

' 4:0. In an apparatus for drying and treat- 80 ing fabrics and other materials, suitable con- .Y taining apparatus forming a closed circuit,

for the drying medium, a condenser in one portion of said circuit for cooling the drying medium, humidifier in. another portion of saidvcircuit receiving its moisture :from the condenser, a main heating means in another portion of the circuit for heating the drying medium suitably for the drying opera-tion, an auxiliary heatin means'in the circuit between the humidi er and said main heating means for regulating the temperature of the humid drying medlum, a plurality of sets of heating means in said circuit on the other side of said main heating means between said main heating means and the condenser, and means for moving the material among said sets of heating means so that the drying medium is alternately cooled by evaporation and heated by said sets,:means for moving the material on the other side of said main heating means so that it 'is subjected `to the humid 'drying lmedium from the humidifier, said means for moving the material being adjustable to varying widths of material, and flexible ba-'Hiing means self` adjustable in. accordance with the adjustment of said moving means. 41. The improved method of` dryingand conditioning fabrics and other`materials, which consists in subjecting the material 'to be dried to a. counter current of dryingmedium, causing the medium in a moist condition to act on the dried material to cool and condition the same, and then heating the same medium and causing it to dry lthe 'fresh material after the medium hasperformed vthe conditioning operation.

In testimony whereof, I have signedmy name to this specification; in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

WILLIAM M. enosvnuonl Witnesses l. l

GORIIAM CROSBY, EDWIN SEGER.l

lt is hereby certied that in Letters Patent N o. 1,076,976, granted @ctober 28, 1913, upon the application of William M. Grosvenor, of Grantwood, New Jersey, for an improvement in Drying and Treating Fabrics and Other Material, an errer appears in the printed speeieation requiring correction as follows: Page 6, lines 13A/1, for

the Word haylug read having; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the ease in the Patent Oflce.

Signed and sealed this 18th day of November, A. iD., 1913.

[SEAL] R, T. FRAZIER,

Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

